2026 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds, Analysis & Favorites (Week 9 Update)

• Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs and Seattle’s WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba lead the OPOY board.
• Chiefs’ RB Kenneth Walker III is +400.
• NFL rushing leader after Week 8, Bijan Robinson, is +750.

Unlike the NFL DPOY odds, the situation for offensive players is completely different. Four contenders stand out from the rest of the competition.

Award Context

• Defending Winner: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks)
• Key Historical Trend: Running backs and wide receivers have claimed six consecutive AP OPOY awards, with winners consistently surpassing 1,800 total yards from scrimmage or catching 100+ passes.

2026-27 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Opening Odds

Player	Position	Team	Opening Odds
Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	Detroit Lions	+225
Jaxon Smith-Njigba	WR	Seattle Seahawks	+300
Kenneth Walker III	RB	Kansas City Chiefs	+400
Bijan Robinson	RB	Atlanta Falcons	+750

Jahmyr Gibbs +225

Gibbs is the driving force of the Lions’ offense, currently the NFL’s 3rd-ranked unit with 29 points per game. He already has 10 touchdowns, 8 rushing and two receiving, and 773 rushing yards in 157 carries, both second in the league. Gibbs surpassed the 1,000 scrimmage-yard mark with the season only reaching its midpoint. Each time Jared Goff sees trouble coming his way, he gives the ball to Gibbs, who handles the rest.

Jaxson Smith-Njigba +300

Last year’s NFL OPOY winner has realistic chances to win this year’s honors as well. JSN is untouchable among wide receivers, having already caught 985 yards for 9 touchdowns. Both figures rank No. 1 in the NFL. And he doesn’t have a single fumble. With the Seahawks struggling to gain consistency in their run game, Sam Darnold is forced to focus on passing, and in such circumstances, JSN is his first and most reliable target.

Kenneth Walker III +400

The Chiefs received the best possible addition to their squad in Walker III. Kansas City now has a balance in its game, and Patrick Mahomes has massive help in the former Super Bowl champion. Walker III has 8 touchdowns in total and 770 rushing yards, No.3 in that category. Once again, the Chiefs’ odds for a Super Bowl title are good, and that’s mostly due to Walker III. If Andy Reid’s unit takes the top seed in the AFC, this guy is very likely to win the OPOY accolades.

Bijan Robinson +750

This guy continued where he stopped last year. Back then, Robinson had 2,298 total yards from scrimmage. After 2026 NFL Week 8, Bijan has 780 rushing yards, the most in the league, and 203 receiving yards. There aren’t many dual-threat runners in history with his numbers, and if he keeps it up like this, we could see the voters picking him for this award. Especially because many believe he should have won it last year, and not JSN.

You can find all the latest NFL odds here.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award (OPOY)

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award (OPOY) is awarded annually by the Associated Press (AP) to the most outstanding offensive performer in professional football.

Unlike the MVP award—which heavily favors quarterbacks—the OPOY routinely honors elite running backs and wide receivers who post historically dominant, league-leading statistical seasons.

🏆 Eligibility and Voting Criteria

The AP NFL OPOY is determined under strict balloting guidelines ahead of the postseason:

• Regular Season Focus: Voting takes place immediately following Week 18; playoff stats carry zero weight in determining the recipient.
• Voting Panel: Decided by a nationwide media panel of 50 sports writers, broadcasters, and football experts.
• Ranked-Choice System: Voters fill out a ranked-choice ballot (1st through 5th place), utilizing a weighted point scale (10-5-3-2-1) to select the winner.

🏈 Historical Milestones & Record Holders

• Most Wins (3): Earl Campbell and Marshall Faulk share the all-time record with 3 AP OPOY awards each.
• Inaugural Winner: Larry Brown (1972, Washington Redskins).
• MVP & OPOY Sweep: Single-season sweeps have occurred 9 times in history, though voters in the modern era frequently separate the MVP (usually a QB) and OPOY (usually a skilled RB/WR).
• Positional Era Shift: Running backs and wide receivers have claimed every OPOY trophy since Patrick Mahomes last won as a QB in 2018.

NFL OPOY Winners

Season	Player	Position	Team
2025	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	Wide Receiver	Seattle Seahawks
2024	Saquon Barkley	Running Back	Philadelphia Eagles
2023	Christian McCaffrey	Running Back	San Francisco 49ers
2022	Justin Jefferson	Wide Receiver	Minnesota Vikings
2021	Cooper Kupp	Wide Receiver	Los Angeles Rams
2020	Derrick Henry	Running Back	Tennessee Titans
2019	Michael Thomas	Wide Receiver	New Orleans Saints
2018	Patrick Mahomes	Quarterback	Kansas City Chiefs
2017	Todd Gurley	Running Back	Los Angeles Rams
2016	Matt Ryan	Quarterback	Atlanta Falcons
2015	Cam Newton	Quarterback	Carolina Panthers
2014	DeMarco Murray	Running Back	Dallas Cowboys
2013	Peyton Manning	Quarterback	Denver Broncos
2012	Adrian Peterson	Running Back	Minnesota Vikings
2011	Drew Brees	Quarterback	New Orleans Saints
2010	Tom Brady	Quarterback	New England Patriots
2009	Chris Johnson	Running Back	Tennessee Titans
2008	Drew Brees	Quarterback	New Orleans Saints
2007	Tom Brady	Quarterback	New England Patriots
2006	LaDainian Tomlinson	Running Back	San Diego Chargers
2005	Shaun Alexander	Running Back	Seattle Seahawks
2004	Peyton Manning	Quarterback	Indianapolis Colts
2003	Jamal Lewis	Running Back	Baltimore Ravens
2002	Priest Holmes	Running Back	Kansas City Chiefs
2001	Marshall Faulk	Running Back	St. Louis Rams
2000	Marshall Faulk	Running Back	St. Louis Rams
1999	Marshall Faulk	Running Back	St. Louis Rams
1998	Terrell Davis	Running Back	Denver Broncos
1997	Barry Sanders	Running Back	Detroit Lions
1996	Terrell Davis	Running Back	Denver Broncos
1995	Brett Favre	Quarterback	Green Bay Packers
1994	Barry Sanders	Running Back	Detroit Lions
1993	Jerry Rice	Wide Receiver	San Francisco 49ers
1992	Steve Young	Quarterback	San Francisco 49ers
1991	Thurman Thomas	Running Back	Buffalo Bills
1990	Warren Moon	Quarterback	Houston Oilers
1989	Joe Montana	Quarterback	San Francisco 49ers
1988	Roger Craig	Running Back	San Francisco 49ers
1987	Jerry Rice	Wide Receiver	San Francisco 49ers
1986	Eric Dickerson	Running Back	Los Angeles Rams
1985	Marcus Allen	Running Back	Los Angeles Raiders
1984	Dan Marino	Quarterback	Miami Dolphins
1983	Joe Theismann	Quarterback	Washington Redskins
1982	Dan Fouts	Quarterback	San Diego Chargers
1981	Ken Anderson	Quarterback	Cincinnati Bengals
1980	Earl Campbell	Running Back	Houston Oilers
1979	Earl Campbell	Running Back	Houston Oilers
1978	Earl Campbell	Running Back	Houston Oilers
1977	Walter Payton	Running Back	Chicago Bears
1976	Bert Jones	Quarterback	Baltimore Colts
1975	Fran Tarkenton	Quarterback	Minnesota Vikings
1974	Ken Stabler	Quarterback	Oakland Raiders
1973	O. J. Simpson	Running Back	Buffalo Bills
1972	Larry Brown	Running Back	Washington Redskins